Rochdale Borough Draft Local Plan Consultation

In recent years, the framework of natural environment policy and regulation has grown significantly in response to the climate and biodiversity emergencies. The Environment Act has introduced mandatory biodiversity net gain and nature recovery to the planning system, and there is much greater understanding of the role of the natural environment in creating healthy, sustainable and resilient places for people.

The policies in this chapter recognise the importance of nature for the benefits it provides. Rochdale’s natural environment matters to all of us because of the vital role that nature plays in supporting our society and economy. It increases our defence against climate change, helps reduce flood risk, improves water and air quality, mitigates the impact of heatwaves in urban areas, creates attractive and sustainable places to live and work, and improves our physical and mental health and wellbeing.

However, the abundance and diversity of nature is in long-term decline, which means that our natural environment is becoming less resilient, and less able to provide us with the essential goods and services which underpin our prosperity and quality of life.

The council recognises the challenge for developers to respond to the increased need for environmental protection and improvement, however, there are also significant opportunities to create well-designed, attractive and healthy places to live and work. By taking a nature positive approach, the council is seeking an overall improvement of the natural environment in a way that also supports developers to achieve resilient and sustainable growth. This includes:

• protecting and enhancing green and blue infrastructure, including open space
• protecting and enhancing biodiversity
• valuing our rural and urban landscapes
• maintaining and enhancing the Green Belt